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Recently Anything Pawsible a blog I follow diligently has recently released an Extensive article about Service Dog teams and the use of them in psychiatric institutions, inpatient, outpatient as well as those who work as Administration individuals.

I have to say that if anyone has, or even is considering a service dog this is REQUIRED READING and I give Kudos’ to the writers and staff of the Anything Pawsible blog and it’s an extensive amount of information for those who work as, and train Service Dogs.

Here is this article, and I suggest you read it several times and keep it handy just in case your family ever needs to work with you and your K9 in your hospitalization etc.

Inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations can be frightening and stressful. For Service Dog teams, inpatient admissions are often more of a struggle. The complications of having dogs on a locked unit focused solely on safety and security are innumerable. However, they’re far from insurmountable! Admission with your Service Dog for inpatient psychiatric treatment can be made easier. It just takes a little planning, organization, and forethought. Read More…

Ma recently ran across a post that truly hit her to the core. She was quite happy and made mention that she wished she could print this out and hand it to everyone that approached her and I while I was working or while she and I were out and about on in the town. It does seem to be the norm that those who do not or have not had any type of connection with service dogs, don’t seem to realize what is done to get us to the point where we are working dogs and how we continue to keep ourselves trained, and up to date. Think of us as “Nurse Practioners.” If you had a nurse that didn’t keep herself up to date with her skills, medical procedures or other disease knowledge, would you want her working and making crucial decisions about your loved one’s health? Probably not. I know my travels down the road of work is a long one, and that as much as I sometimes like and act like an lazy dog remember a few things:

1) I am only nine months old and my puppy energy is STILL there. I am trained, worked with daily and learning something new to challenge my growing brain daily.

2) I still am growing and even at 80 plus pounds, my body needs it’s sleep (when I an get it) to grow and continue to do so in a healthy manner.

3) I am a short muzzled K9, or in more scientific terms, a “brachycephalic” dog. These dogs can include Pugs, Chin’s, Bulldogs, Bullmastiff’s, Dogue De Bordeaux, Boxers and a few other breeds that look like they hit the wall full force as a pup. Our noses are our cooling system (as well as our feet) and in that the longer the nose (muzzle) the most time and room the air has to be cooled down by our bodies before it hits our system. The shorter the nose, the less time we have to cool it, therefore, we are no always at all successful. Because of this, the brachycephalic dogs should be kept cool and out of long term heat exposure. If I am being lazy or lying on my side, it is one way for me to help my body cool down faster than just relying on my nose to cool the air I am breathing in.

4) And just because I am laying there, doesn’t mean I am not aware. You would be surprised what our noses do when our eyes are closed.

Please read this article and pass it along. I can’t count on my paws the number of times she has been asked stupid hooman questions when she really should be concentrating on me.

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